Power lift and transfer system and method

ABSTRACT

A power lift and transfer system and method are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the power lift and transfer system and method may be realized as a power lift and transfer system. The power lift and transfer system may move, stow, and carry a mobility device for a user with a disability, and then assist the person with the disability to transfer in and out of a vehicle. The power lift and transfer system may further transport the wheeled or other mobility device from a position in a rear or on top of the vehicle to passenger or driver areas of the vehicle, and then assist the user by means of a conveyor belt to transfer laterally into the automobile seat.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/129,922, filed Jul. 29, 2008, which is herebyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods forlifting and transferring wheeled mobility devices for persons withdisabilities and persons with disabilities into and out of vehicles and,more particularly, to a power lift and transfer system and method forassisting persons in lifting and transferring a wheeled mobility devicewhen entering and exiting a vehicle, as well as a conveyor and supportsystem for facilitating persons with disabilities into and out of avehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Users with disabilities who wish to travel using a wheelchair or otherwheeled mobility device, but who do not have a vehicle which allows foreasy stowage of the mobility device, often encounter problems. Forexample, vehicles such as minivans and full-sized vans with large cargodoors, pickup trucks with large access cabs or cargo boxes, and SUV'sbenefit from large and logical wheelchair storage areas, several ofwhich are located conveniently close to the seating area whichindividuals with disabilities may need to access. Preferably, with suchvehicles, there is a minimum of distance between where a wheelchair maybe stowed and the destination of the individual inside the vehicle. Forreasons of fuel economy, personal choice, and/or comfort, manywheelchair or mobility-impaired persons who are unable to, or for whomit is unsafe to, walk to the rear of a vehicle from a passenger ordriver's door, will desire access to vehicles with severe spaceconstraints. These persons may nevertheless wish to store either a poweror manual wheelchair or other personal mobility aid such as a walkerwith the vehicle. In vehicles with severe space constraints, this maymean that the only logical place to store a large object is outside thevehicle. Although some lifts exist which allow a user to store amobility device in the rear of a vehicle, the majority of those lifts dolot allow for delivery of the mobility device to the driver's orpassenger's compartment, which is essential to many-mobility-impairedusers. Some lifts do exist which allow both for stowage of a wheelchairon a rooftop and delivery of same to a driver's or passenger's door.However, many users have reservations about such technology as rooftopdevices often compromise appearance, fuel economy, handling, andstability of the vehicle. Also, several transfer devices exist whichallow a user to access a vehicle seat directly from outside of a vehiclethrough a variety of means, including pivoting vehicle seats which tiltand/or exit the vehicle to facilitate transfers, devices which providean elevator platform adjacent to a vehicle seat or which create aremovable or non-removable bridge from a mobility device to the vehicleseat. Again, however, such devices typically do not address the specialcircumstances created by vehicles with significant space constraints. Insuch vehicles, there is often not enough space to facilitate either theejection of a vehicle seat through a vehicle door opening or for otherspecialized equipment in the interior of the vehicle. An additionalchallenge is posed by the fact that the transfer process into theinterior of a smaller vehicle is made more difficult by an accordinglysmall passenger compartment and/or door opening.

In view of the foregoing, it may be understood that there may besignificant problems and shortcomings associated with current mobilityassistance systems.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A power lift and transfer system and method are disclosed. In oneparticular exemplary embodiment, the power lift and transfer system andmethod may be realized as a power lift and transfer system. The powerlift and transfer system may move, stow, and carry a mobility device fora user with a disability, and then assist the person with the disabilityto transfer in and out of a vehicle. The power lift and transfer systemmay further transport the wheeled or other mobility device from aposition in a rear or on top of the vehicle to passenger or driver areasof the vehicle, and then assist the user by means of a conveyor belt totransfer laterally into the automobile seat. The transfer conveyor beltsystem operates in a unique manner. That is, once the user has arrivedat the door of the vehicle, the user may transfer onto a seat of thevehicle and then activate a motorized conveyor belt system which may beplaced across a base of a cushion of the seat to pull the user aremainder of the distance required for proper seated placement withinthe vehicle and subsequent travel in the vehicle. The transfer conveyorbelt system may comprise one or two motors and/or springs to activateeither a conveyor belt configured in a loop or a belt attached to twomotorized or spring-operated spindles, one on each end, and may beactivated in both in and out directions. The transfer conveyor beltsystem may also comprise an additional bridge component which maycomprise an additional conveyor configured similarly to the seat cushionconveyor system, but which has an added advantage of providing a poweredconveyor motion in a space between the user's mobility device and theseat of the vehicle. The wheelchair stowage portion of the system may beconfigured in at least a suspended version and a fixed attachmentversion. The suspended version may use a flexible strap, belt, net, orchain to support the mobility device, while the fixed attachment versionmay provide a positive interlocking connection to the mobility devicewhile it is being stowed and transported.

The present disclosure will now be described in more detail withreference to exemplary embodiments thereof as shown in the accompanyingdrawings. While the present disclosure is described below with referenceto exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto. Those of ordinary skill in the arthaving access to the teachings herein will recognize additionalimplementations, modifications, and embodiments, as well as other fieldsof use, which are within the scope of the present disclosure asdescribed herein, and with respect to which the present disclosure maybe of significant utility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to facilitate a fuller understanding of the present disclosure,reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which likeelements are referenced with like numerals. These drawings should not beconstrued as limiting the present disclosure, but are intended to beexemplary only.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a power lift and transfer system in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure in a bumper-mounted versionwith a wheelchair on the ground, fully deployed and adjacent to a doorof a vehicle utilizing a suspended strap docking device as detailed inFIG. 5.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a power lift and transfer system in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure in a bumper-mounted versionwith a wheelchair on the ground, fully deployed and adjacent to a doorof a vehicle utilizing a latch and bolt docking device as detailed inFIG. 6.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a power lift and transfer system in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure in a bumper-mounted versionwith a wheelchair lifted and in a fully rearward position and with acanopy open.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a power lift and transfer system in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure in a bumper-mounted versionwith a wheelchair lifted and in a fully rearward position and with acanopy closed.

FIG. 5 is a detail view of a suspended strap style docking devicereferred to in FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6 is a detail view of a latch and bolt style docking devicereferred to in FIG. 2 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 is a detail view of a blade style docking device in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of a power lift and transfer system in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure in a bumper-mounted versionwith a wheelchair in a fully stowed position.

FIG. 9 is a rear view of a power lift and transfer system in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure in a hatch/trunk storageversion with a wheelchair in a fully stowed position.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a power lift and transfer system in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure in a hatch/trunk storageversion with a wheelchair on the ground, fully deployed and adjacent toa door of a vehicle using a latch and bolt style docking device asdetailed in FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 is a rear view of a power lift and transfer system in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure depicting a conveyor andsupport system to facilitate transfers of a user into a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a power lift and transfer system 100in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure in abumper-mounted version with a wheelchair on the ground, fully deployedand adjacent to a door of a vehicle utilizing a suspended strap dockingdevice as detailed in FIG. 5. Beginning from the bottom of the system100 upward and rearward, the system 100 includes a wheelchair 2 to beattached to a suspended strap docking device 3. Docking device 3comprises a strap which is spooled into a reel 4 which is attached to ashaft of a motor 5, the housing of which is firmly attached to avertical support 6.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the system 100 is a bumper-mounted version witha wheelchair on the ground, fully deployed and adjacent to a door of avehicle utilizing a latch and bolt docking device as detailed in FIG. 6.However, these figures are also representative of the operation andmotion of the system 100 in the suspended strap (FIG. 5) and blade (FIG.7) configurations.

During typical operation of the system 100, the motion of all motors iscontrolled by an electrical controller 26, which can control motorsthrough encoders located within the motors or by means of limit switcheslocated at various points during a stowage and deployment process. Uponactivation of motor 5, suspended strap docking device 3 may be raised orlowered, thus raising or lowering wheelchair 2, which may be attached tosuspended strap docking device 3 via hooks or other means of temporaryconnection in suspended strap docking device 3. Upon completion of thismotion, or concurrently with it, extension shaft 10 may be retractedinto an extension shaft sleeve 11 driven by motor 12, and an extensionshaft 14 may be driven into an extension shaft sleeve 15 by a motor 16.Smooth motion across the ground and proper weight support of system 100may be provided by a wheel 13 as the wheelchair moves rearward. Uponarrival of a wheel 17 at a ramp 18, a pivoting motion about an axle 20is induced, causing extension shafts 10 and 14 and extension shaftsleeves 15 and 11 to arrive at a substantially horizontal position. Uponarrival of the wheelchair at a stop 21, an actuator 28 propels a canopy23 to a closed position and rotation of a horizontal support member 22commences rotation about an axle 24 towards a rear of the vehiclepowered by a motor 28 until it reaches a position approximately parallelwith a rear face of the vehicle and perpendicular to a longitudinal axisof the vehicle as pictured in FIG. 8. System 100 is at that point in afully stowed position.

Referring to FIG. 6, the latch and bolt style docking device is shown inwhich the wheelchair 2 is fitted with a bolt plate 7, the bolts of whichare designed to be moved rearward into a “v” opening of a receiver 8 andlatched to the receiver 8 by means of a pivoting motion of a latch 9.

Referring to FIG. 7, the blade style docking device is shown in whichthe wheelchair 2 is fitted with a receiver plate 7 a which has a slotinto which a blade 8 a fits as a receiver plate 7 moves rearward toinduce a latching action. The blade 8 a incorporates a protrusion whichwhen receiver plate 7 a moves rearward induces a pivoting motion of alatch 9 a and a positive latching connection between a slot in the latch9 a and the protrusion. A “v” leading edge of the blade 8 a facilitatesthe user making a connection between the blade 8 a and the receiverplate 7 a.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 9, the system 100 is represented in aninterior-mounted configuration which is similar to the hitch-mountedversions reflected in FIGS. 1-4, with the exception that a mountingsupport 29 is located inside a cargo area or trunk of the vehicle. Inthis version of the system 100, when a horizontal support bar 18 reachesa fully stowed position, which may be substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the vehicle or, if space in an interior of thevehicle permits, may travel beyond that position to a position moreparallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. In this configuration,the wheelchair and system are fully inside the vehicle when in a fullystowed position.

Referring to FIG. 11, there is shown a conveyor and support system 200in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Beginning ona left side and in accordance with a typical transfer sequence for adisabled user, the user may first deploy a transfer support 50 from asubstantially vertical axis by pivoting the transfer support 50 about anaxis of an axle 51 to a substantially horizontal position suitable for alevel transfer from a wheelchair. The user may activate motor pairs 53and 56 which in turn may cause a top surface of conveyor belts 54 and 55to create an inward motion. The user may then transfer to a top of aconveyor belt 54 and be transported over the transfer support 50 and aseat of the vehicle 57 toward an interior of the vehicle. The user maystop the motors when in an appropriate position.

In an alternate configuration to system 200, represented on the rightside of FIG. 11, the system 200 may operate in a similar manner to thatdescribed above for the system 200 on the left side of FIG. 11 with theexception that conveyor belts 58 and 59 may be constructed in acontinuous loop fashion and surround the seat 57 and the transfersupport 50 in order to reduce a number of motors 56 as well as acomplexity and cost of production of the system 200.

The present disclosure is not to be limited in scope by the specificembodiments described herein. Indeed, other various embodiments of andmodifications to the present disclosure, in addition to those describedherein, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from theforegoing description and accompanying drawings. Thus, such otherembodiments and modifications are intended to fall within the scope ofthe present disclosure. Further, although the present disclosure hasbeen described herein in the context of a particular implementation in aparticular environment for a particular purpose, those of ordinary skillin the art will recognize that its usefulness is not limited thereto andthat the present disclosure may be beneficially implemented in anynumber of environments for any number of purposes. Accordingly, theclaims set forth below should be construed in view of the full breadthand spirit of the present disclosure as described herein.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A lift and transfer system comprising: anaxle assembly to be mounted to a vehicle having a rear surface and aside surface oriented in a substantially perpendicular manner; a supportmember coupled to the axle assembly, the support member configured torotate about a substantially vertical axis of the axle assembly betweena first position substantially parallel to the side surface of thevehicle and a second position substantially parallel to the rear surfaceof the vehicle; an extension shaft assembly coupled to the supportmember, the extension shaft assembly comprising at least one extensionshaft arrangement configured to extend and retract at least onerespective extension shaft along the side surface of the vehicle whenthe support member is in the first position; and a docking assemblycoupled to the extension shaft assembly, the docking assembly to securea mobility device to the extension shaft assembly and thereby permit themobility device to be lifted and transferred via the lift and transfersystem between a loading/unloading position adjacent the side of thevehicle and a stowed position adjacent the rear surface of the vehicle,wherein the docking assembly comprises: a blade element coupled to theextension shaft assembly, the blade element configured to engage ashaped opening of a receiving slot of a receiving element mounted on themobility device such that when the blade element is engaged with theshaped opening of the receiving slot the blade element is prevented fromrotating within the receiving slot; and a latching mechanism configuredto perform a latching action and a unlatching action, wherein thelatching mechanism performs the latching action when the blade elementengages with the shaped opening of the receiving slot such that when theblade element engages with the shaped opening of the receiving slot theblade element is prevented from disengaging from the receiving slotuntil the latching mechanism performs the unlatching action.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising: a canopy assembly coupled to thesupport member, the canopy assembly comprising a canopy configured totransition between an open position and a closed position, the closedposition enabling the canopy to cover the mobility device in the stowedposition.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the axle assembly comprisesat least one motor to rotate the support member about the substantiallyvertical axis between the first position and the second position.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the extension shaft assembly comprises twoextension shaft arrangements each individually actuated by at least onemotor to extend and retract each respective extension shaft along theside surface of the vehicle.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein theextension shaft assembly further comprises at least one wheel coupled toat least one extension shaft to support the at least one extension shafton the ground.
 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a conveyorassembly mounted proximate an interior seat of the vehicle, the conveyorassembly comprising at least one conveyor belt to transfer a user alonga top of the at least one conveyor belt between positions exterior andinterior of the vehicle.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the conveyorassembly further comprises a support assembly for supporting at leastone of the at least one conveyor belt, the support assembly pivotingabout a substantially horizontal axis between a stowed position whereinthe conveyor assembly is located interior of the vehicle and a transferposition wherein at least part of the conveyor assembly is locatedexterior of the vehicle.
 8. A method for operating a lift and transfersystem comprising: rotating a support member about a substantiallyvertical axis of an axle assembly from a first position substantiallyparallel to a rear surface of a vehicle to a second positionsubstantially parallel to a side surface of the vehicle, the supportmember coupled to the axle assembly, the axle assembly mounted to thevehicle; extending a plurality of extension shafts of a respectiveplurality of individually actuated extension shaft arrangements of anextension shaft assembly along the side surface of the vehicle when thesupport member is in the second position, each of the plurality ofextension shaft arrangements individually actuated to extend arespective extension shaft by at least one motor, the extension shaftassembly coupled to the support member; and disengaging a mobilitydevice from a docking assembly when the support member is in the secondposition and the at least one extension shaft of the extension shaftassembly is extended along the side surface of the vehicle, the dockingassembly coupled to the extension shaft assembly and comprising: a bladeelement coupled to the extension shaft assembly, the blade elementconfigured to engage a shaped opening of a receiving slot of a receivingelement mounted on the mobility device such that when the blade elementis engaged with the shaped opening of the receiving slot the bladeelement is prevented from rotating within the receiving slot; and alatching mechanism configured to perform a latching action and aunlatching action, wherein the latching mechanism performs the latchingaction when the blade element engages with the shaped opening of thereceiving slot such that when the blade element engages with the shapedopening of the receiving slot the blade element is prevented fromdisengaging from the receiving slot until the latching mechanismperforms the unlatching action.
 9. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising: raising a canopy covering the mobility device when thesupport member is in the second position but before extending the atleast one extension shaft of each of the plurality of individuallyactuated extension shaft arrangements of the extension shaft assemblyalong the side surface of the vehicle, the canopy assembly coupled tothe support member.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the mobilitydevice is disengaged from the docking assembly when the at least oneextension shaft of each of the plurality of individually actuatedextension shaft arrangements of the extension shaft assembly is extendedalong the side surface of the vehicle such that the mobility device islocated adjacent a door of the vehicle, the method further comprising:transferring a user from an interior of the vehicle to the mobilitydevice via a conveyor assembly mounted proximate an interior seat of thevehicle, the conveyor assembly comprising at least one conveyor belt totransfer a user along a top of the at least one conveyor belt betweenpositions exterior and interior of the vehicle.
 11. The method of claim10, further comprising: pivoting the conveyor assembly about asubstantially horizontal axis from a transfer position wherein at leastpart of the conveyor assembly is located exterior of the vehicle to astowed position wherein the conveyor assembly is located interior of thevehicle.
 12. The method of claim 8, further comprising: retracting theat least one extension shaft of each of the plurality of individuallyactuated extension shaft arrangements of the extension shaft assemblyalong the side surface of the vehicle when the support member is in thesecond position.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:rotating the support member about the substantially vertical axis of theaxle assembly from the second position to the first position.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising: lowering a canopy over thesupport member after retracting the at least one extension shaft of eachof the plurality of individually actuated extension shaft arrangementsof the extension shaft assembly along the side surface of the vehiclebut before the support member is rotated from the second position to thefirst position, the canopy assembly coupled to the support member.
 15. Amethod for operating a lift and transfer system comprising: transferringa user from a mobility device located adjacent a door of the vehicle toan interior of the vehicle; engaging the mobility device with a dockingassembly to secure the mobility device to an extension shaft assemblythat is extended along the side surface of the vehicle, the dockingassembly coupled to the extension shaft assembly; retracting theplurality of extension shafts of the respective plurality ofindividually actuated extension shaft arrangements of the extensionshaft assembly along the side surface of the vehicle, each of theplurality of extension shaft arrangements individually actuated toretract a respective extension shaft by at least one motor, theextension shaft assembly coupled to a support member; and rotating thesupport member about a substantially vertical axis of an axle assemblyfrom a first position substantially parallel to a side surface of thevehicle to a second position substantially parallel to a rear surface ofthe vehicle, the support member coupled to the axle assembly, the axleassembly mounted to the vehicle; wherein the docking assembly comprises:a blade element coupled to the extension shaft assembly, the bladeelement configured to engage a shaped opening of a receiving slot of areceiving element mounted on the mobility device such that when theblade element is engaged with the shaped opening of the receiving slotthe blade element is prevented from rotating within the receiving slot;and a latching mechanism configured to perform a latching action and aunlatching action, wherein the latching mechanism performs the latchingaction when the blade element engages with the shaped opening of thereceiving slot such that when the blade element engages with the shapedopening of the receiving slot the blade element is prevented fromdisengaging from the receiving slot until the latching mechanismperforms the unlatching action.
 16. A lift and transfer systemcomprising: an axle assembly to be mounted to a vehicle having a rearsurface and a side surface oriented in a substantially perpendicularmanner; a support member coupled to the axle assembly, the supportmember configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis of theaxle assembly between a first position substantially parallel to theside surface of the vehicle and a second position substantially parallelto the rear surface of the vehicle; an extension shaft assembly coupledto the support member, the extension shaft assembly comprising at leastone extension shaft arrangement configured to extend and retract atleast one extension shaft along the side surface of the vehicle when thesupport member is in the first position; and a docking assembly coupledto the extension shaft assembly, the docking assembly to secure amobility device to the extension shaft assembly and thereby permit themobility device to be lifted and transferred via the lift and transfersystem between a loading/unloading position adjacent the side of thevehicle and a stowed position adjacent the rear surface of the vehicle,wherein the docking assembly comprises: a receiving element coupled tothe extension shaft assembly, the receiving element comprising areceiving slot having a shaped opening, the receiving element configuredto engage a blade element mounted on the mobility device such that whenthe blade element is engaged with the shaped opening of the receivingslot the blade element is prevented from rotating within the receivingslot; and a latching mechanism configured to perform a latching actionand a unlatching action, wherein the latching mechanism performs thelatching action when the blade element engages with the shaped openingof the receiving slot such that when the blade element engages with theshaped opening of the receiving slot the blade element is prevented fromdisengaging from the receiving slot until the latching mechanismperforms the unlatching action.
 17. A lift and transfer systemcomprising: an axle assembly to be mounted to a vehicle having a rearsurface and a side surface oriented in a substantially perpendicularmanner; a support member coupled to the axle assembly, the supportmember configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis of theaxle assembly between a first position substantially parallel to theside surface of the vehicle and a second position substantially parallelto the rear surface of the vehicle; an extension shaft assembly coupledto the support member, the extension shaft assembly comprising at leastone extension shaft arrangement configured to extend and retract atleast one extension shaft along the side surface of the vehicle when thesupport member is in the first position; and a docking assembly coupledto the extension shaft assembly, the docking assembly to secure amobility device to the extension shaft assembly and thereby permit themobility device to be lifted and transferred via the lift and transfersystem between a loading/unloading position adjacent the side of thevehicle and a stowed position adjacent the rear surface of the vehicle,wherein the docking assembly comprises: a receiving element coupled tothe extension shaft assembly, the receiving element comprising a shapedopening, the receiving element configured to engage a bolt platecomprising at least one bolt mounted on the mobility device such thatwhen the bolt plate is engaged with the shaped opening of the receivingelement the bolt plate is prevented from rotating within the shapedopening; and a latching mechanism configured to perform a latchingaction and a unlatching action, wherein the latching mechanism performsthe latching action when the bolt plate engages with the shaped openingof the receiving element such that when the bolt plate engages with theshaped opening of the receiving element the bolt plate is prevented fromdisengaging from the shaped opening until the latching mechanismperforms the unlatching action.
 18. A lift and transfer systemcomprising: an axle assembly to be mounted to a vehicle having a rearsurface and a side surface oriented in a substantially perpendicularmanner; a support member coupled to the axle assembly, the supportmember configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis of theaxle assembly between a first position substantially parallel to theside surface of the vehicle and a second position substantially parallelto the rear surface of the vehicle; an extension shaft assembly coupledto the support member, the extension shaft assembly comprising at leastone extension shaft arrangement configured to extend and retract atleast one extension shaft along the side surface of the vehicle when thesupport member is in the first position; and a docking assembly coupledto the extension shaft assembly, the docking assembly to secure amobility device to the extension shaft assembly and thereby permit themobility device to be lifted and transferred via the lift and transfersystem between a loading/unloading position adjacent the side of thevehicle and a stowed position adjacent the rear surface of the vehicle,wherein the docking assembly comprises: a bolt plate comprising at leastone bolt coupled to the extension shaft assembly, the bolt plateconfigured to engage a shaped opening of a receiving element mounted onthe mobility device such that when the bolt plate is engaged with theshaped opening of the receiving element the bolt plate is prevented fromrotating within the shaped opening; and a latching mechanism configuredto perform a latching action and a unlatching action, wherein thelatching mechanism performs the latching action when the bolt plateengages with the shaped opening of the receiving element such that whenthe bolt plate engages with the shaped opening of the receiving elementthe bolt plate is prevented from disengaging from the shaped openinguntil the latching mechanism performs the unlatching action.
 19. Amethod for operating a lift and transfer system comprising: rotating asupport member about a substantially vertical axis of an axle assemblyfrom a first position substantially parallel to a rear surface of avehicle to a second position substantially parallel to a side surface ofthe vehicle, the support member coupled to the axle assembly, the axleassembly mounted to the vehicle; extending a plurality of extensionshafts of a respective plurality of individually actuated extensionshaft arrangements of an extension shaft assembly along the side surfaceof the vehicle when the support member is in the second position, eachof the plurality of extension shaft arrangements individually actuatedto extend a respective extension shaft by at least one motor, theextension shaft assembly coupled to the support member; and disengaginga mobility device from a docking assembly when the support member is inthe second position and the at least one extension shaft of theextension shaft assembly is extended along the side surface of thevehicle, the docking assembly coupled to the extension shaft assemblyand comprising: a receiving element coupled to the extension shaftassembly, the receiving element comprising a shaped opening, thereceiving element configured to engage a bolt plate comprising at leastone bolt mounted on the mobility device such that when the bolt plate isengaged with the shaped opening of the receiving element the bolt plateis prevented from rotating within the shaped opening; and a latchingmechanism configured to perform a latching action and a unlatchingaction, wherein the latching mechanism performs the latching action whenthe bolt plate engages with the shaped opening of the receiving elementsuch that when the bolt plate engages with the shaped opening of thereceiving element the bolt plate is prevented from disengaging from theshaped opening until the latching mechanism performs the unlatchingaction.